Spring-wheel.



W. KASTENS. 'SPRING WHEEL.

A'PPLICATION FILED DEC-26,1916

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. KASTENS.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLlcA'TmN FILED DEc.26. 191e.

Pama Mar. 27, 1917..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIHM KHSTENS c, gte

warmen nns'rnns, or srnrnerrnnn, omo.

I SPRING-WHEEL.

need/ias;

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Mar. 2'?, i913?.

Application led December 26, 1918. Serial No. 158,905.

. To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, WILLIAM KAs'rnNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the vcounty of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new .y and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels,

of whichthe following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in spring wheels .and it is 'an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character' having novel and iin-- proved means whereby the jars or vibrations incident to travel are substantially absorbed. a

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character wherein a telly is yieldably supported and capable of limited Amovement in a circumferential direction.

The invention also has for an object to provide a wheel of this general character including a substantially hollow telly having coacting therewith means for eiiectively preventing relative movement of the side walls of said felly.

y The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar- -rangement of the several parts of my 1mprovedf'wheel whereby certain important .ad-

. vantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all aswill be hereinafter more fully 4set forth. A

The novel features of the invention will i hereinafter be deiinitely claimed.

` In order that my invention may be the better understood, I' will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereinyFigure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation with portions broken away of a wheel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. '2 is a fragmentary view the felly as herein embodied; f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken circumferentially of the wheel as herein disclosed, the coactirig portion of a spoke being shown in'elevation;v

Fig. a' is a sectional view taken substanin pl'an of 4 tially on the line 4 1- o Fig? 1;

Fig. 5 is a viewiin end elevation of a cush- -axial center of ioning member as herein employed, thecoacting holding plate being omitted;

Fig. 6 is a .sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3

l Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a slightly modified form of invention; and

Fig.l 8 is a plan view of the holding plate as hereindisclosed coacting with a cushioning member.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw ings, H denotes a h ub of any ordinary or preferred construction and having radiating therefrom the spokes S.

The outer. end portion of each of the spokes S is reduced, as indicated at l, and said reduced portion is insertible within a sleeve 2. The outer end of the sleeve 2, as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 3', is provided with the tapered extension 3 adapted to be .accommodated with a correspondingly vcross section. In order to facilitate the p0- sitioning of the member M within the felly F I find it of advantage to .torni said member M of two sections, adjacent ends being pivotally connected as indicated at 5, while the opposite ends oi said sections are adapted to be secured one to the other in any desired manner, as at 6 (Fig. l.)

,The inner or intermediate wall 7 of the telly. F is provided with the circumferentially directed slots 8 through each of which is loosely disposed a sleeve 2 whereby it will be perceived that the felly F is capable of -movement independently of the member M.

As is clearly illustrated in F ig; 3, it is to with the' outer end portion of the sleeve and the member M for holding said sleeve 2 and member M against relative movement so that the member M is eliectively maintained, when in applied position, lconcentric to the the wheel or more particularly the hub H.

Opposed faces of the sleeve 2, as indicated at 10 in Fig. 6, are lattened, and slidably mounted upon the sleeve 2 is the plate ll. of a length in excess of the length'of the adjacent slot 8. lt will also be self-evident lll that the flattened fabeslO ol .the sleeve 2 serve to hold the plate 11- against rotation about the sleeve, as the openingin the plate rllhreaded upon. the inner end of the sleeve' i2 is the nut N of any desired type, and: interposed between said nut N and the plate 11 is the expansible member 12 herein disclosed as a' conventional coil spring encircling the sleeve 2. v

The members 12 serve to maintain'the ielly F, when the wheel is free or' load, substantially concentric to the member M or the hub H but it will at oncc be self-evident that the Vfelly F is capable of yielding niovement when under load independently' of the .member M.

It will also be clearly apparent that the tension of each of the members 12 may be readily varied by adjustment ot' the coactingY nut N longitudinally of the section 2. In order to hold each of the nuts N against rotation l lind it of advantage to employ in connection therewith a jam nut J also in threaded engagement with the inner end portion of the member 2 and inwardly of the nut N. l

The outer or open tace of the telly F is closed by the annular rim R to which is suitably allixed the tire T of rubber or any desired material as I do not wish to be under-Y stood as limiting myself in any manner as pertains to the character of the tire T. It is also to be understood that the rim R is to be considered a part of the telly F so that said ellv may be defined as being hollow.

As herein embodied, the rim lt is heldin Iapplied position upon the felly F through the medium of the inwardly directed bolts let disposed through the marginal portions of the rim R and in contact with the outer :tace of the side portions 15 of the telly. The inner end portions of the bolts l-l are disposed through the extremities of the cross bar 16 extending across and in contact with the inner face of the intermediate wall 7 of: the telly F.

17 denotes clamping nuts threaded upon the inner extremities of the bolts 1l and arranged for Contact with the bars 16 whereby it will be perceived that the rim R may be effectively held in applied position upon the felly F. It is also thought to be self-evident especially in'view of the disclosure in Fig. 4 that the position of the bolts 14 effectively serve to prevent outward spreading of the side portions'15 of' the felly F.

It is essential that the side portions 15 or more particularly the opposed faces thereof be substantially parallel so that no obstruction will be aorded to the movement of the felly F relative to the member M and in order to hold said side portions 15 Leccese against inward movement which would have a tendency to bind upon the member M, .l interpose between the outer marginsl of the portions 15 the cross bars 18 provided at opposite ends with the reduced extensions 19 sea-ted within suitable recesses or notches 2O produced in the outer edges ot the portions 15.

1t is thought to be obvious 'that the slots 8 permit limited movement in substantially aV circumferential direction of the. telly i which is of especial import in the event tnetirc should receive an unusual jolt.

C denotes a cushioning member interposed between the member M and R in substantial alinement with each 1 sleeves 2 or spokes S, and as hereifv bodied, the cushioning member s' a substantially rectangular ccmpressible body 21 ot rubber or the like prete with. its longitudinal axis disposed erentially of the member M and said body 21 adjacent its longitadinal .margins is provided with the outstanding compressible lugs 22' adapted to i'rictionally engage the inner surface oit the rim R, whereby the rim R iseffectivelymaintained against circumerential movement independently ot the member M and whereby the rim R and the telly F are maintained properly centered.

The cushioning member C, may be secured to the member M in any desired manner but. it is preferred that the plate P be employed Aniv lto overlie the outer tace of the body 21 and provided-with the slots 23 through which. i90 the lugs 22 extend. The plate P is also pro-- vided adjacent its opposite ends and at subi stantially its transverse center with the openings 24e through which the retaining screws 25 or the like are adapted to be passed to anchor the body 21 to the member M. y

When a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention is adapted for use in connection with unusually heavy vehicles, it is preferred that the form of invention be employed as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 7. The parts shown in this Fig. 7, which are substantially the same as set forth in the remaining figures, are identified by corresponding reference characters for conven-V ience of identity, As disclosed in this Fig. 7, the sleeve 2 has Slidably engaged there- 'with thc plate 26with which coact the nuts N andJ, and interposed between the ends ol the plate 2G and the plate 11a are the eX- pansible members 27 herein disclosed as conventional coil springs for a purpose which is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains. Y

From the foregoing description, it is l thought to be obvious that a wheelv constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may loe assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some' change and nmdication Without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and .tor this reason l dornot wish to be understood as limiting myselrn to the precise ar-v rangement and ormation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my in 'vention in claimed.

l. il wheel comprisingl a hub5 spokes radiating thei'eironi, a substantially hollow telly provided with circumferentially disposed slots through which the outer end portions of the spokes are freely insertible and wherebysaid telly is capable of limited eircnznierential movement independently of the spokes, an annular member arranged 'within the telly and to which the spokes are t ched, yieldable means coacting with the i'eily for controlling the movementJ thereot1 practice, except as hereinafter.

longitudinally of the spokes, and compressible bodies carried by the annular member and frictionally engaging the rim.

2. A wheel comprising a hub, spokes radiating therefrom, a substantially hollow Afelly provided with circumferentally disposed slots through which the. outer end portions of the spokes are freely insertible and Wliereby'said xelly is capable of limited circumferential movement independently of theV spokes, an annular member arranged Within the elly and to which the spokes are attached, yieldable means coacting with the telly for controlling the movement thereof longitudinally of the spokes, and compressible bodies secured to the annular member and provided with lugs rictionally engagin the felly.

n testimony whereof I hereunto al'ix my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

"WrLLiAM imsfrens.' 

